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By Type (15 )

Standard Lease

1-Page

Commercial

Condominium

Equipment

Member of the family

Hunting (Land)

Month-to-Month

Parking Space

Rent-to-Own

Roommate

Storage Space

Sublease

Vacation (short-term)

Weekly

The Leasing Process (8 steps)

Housing Statistics

- 33.6% of U.S. households are renters (44 million). [1] [2]- 68.2% of leases are fixed-term. [3]- 31.8% of leases are month-to-month.
- 30% of a renter's earnings (typically) is invested in rent. [4]

1. Tenant Views the Space

The occupant's initial step in the leasing process is viewing the area. This is typically after viewing photos of the residential or commercial property on a website where it was noted.

Renting Trends (2023 )

91% of tenants use a website or mobile app when browsing, and 19% get housing without requiring an in-person tour. [5]

2. Obtain a Rental Application

Before an offer is accepted, the property manager typically requests a renter to finish a rental application and pay a small fee (view maximum charges by state). The most common charge was $50 in 2023. [6]

Applicant Details

- Applicant's name & address
- Employment details
- Income verification
- Previous landlords
- Consent (to run a credit check)

3. Screen the Applicant

Use the rental application to run a consumer report. This includes running a credit report and searching public records (expulsion search, background check, and so on).

Recommended Services

- Limited ($ 21) - RentPrep.com
- Detailed ($ 40) - MySmartMove.com

4. Verify References

The applicant's company and previous proprietors need to be called. This provides insight into the candidate's character and if they pay their rent on time.

Questions to Ask a Previous Landlord

- Was rent paid on time during the tenancy?
- Did the occupant breach the lease?
- What was the reason for leaving the residential or commercial property?
- Was there damage made on the residential or commercial property?
- Would you re-rent to the tenant again?

5. Negotiate the Lease

Once an occupant is authorized, the parties will start working out the rental terms. If the occupant is a creditworthy person, they may have the ability to get a better deal due to their monetary status.

Negotiation Items

- Monthly rent ($).
- Down payment.
- Utilities.
- Fees (e.g., parking, family pets, garbage, and so on)

6. Lease Signing

When both celebrations sign the lease it ends up being legally binding until completion of its term. The most typical ways to sign are in-person or digitally.

Required at Lease Signing

- First month's rent.
- Security deposit.
- Identification

7. Taking Occupancy

After signing the lease and making preliminary payments, the occupant should be admitted to the residential or commercial property at the start of the lease term. Generally, an occupant can not move into the residential or commercial property unless they have actually made an additional payment.

Inspecting the Residential or commercial property

To secure the security deposit, it is recommended that the tenant complete a move-in evaluation type and keep in mind any existing residential or commercial property damage. In 2023, just 42% of occupants stated they got completely refunded on their security deposit. [7]

8. End of Tenancy

The proprietor will inform the renter of their intention to renew or terminate the lease between 30 and 90 days before the end of the occupancy. If the property owner ends the lease, the renter's security deposit will be returned after move-out.

Landlord's Options

Renew the Lease - By sending a Lease Extension.
Terminate the Lease - By sending a Non-Renewal Lease Letter.
Landlord-Tenant Laws

Security Deposit Laws.
Expand Collapse.
State Maximum ($).
Returning.
Statute.
Alabama 1 month's lease 60 days after the termination date and delivery of belongings § 35-9A-201( a), 35-9A-201( b).
Alaska 2 months' rent, other than for systems leasing for more than $2,000 14 days if the tenant leaves on-time, thirty days if not § 34.03.070( a), § 34.03.070( g).
Arizona 1.5 months' lease 14 days from move-out examination (excl. weekends and holidays) § 33-1321.
Arkansas 2 months' lease 60 days from termination of occupancy § 18-16-304, § 18-16-305.
California 1 month's rent 21 days from the move-out date 1950.5.
Colorado 2 months' lease (excluding family pet deposits) 1 month if pointed out in the lease, 2 months if not C.R.S. § 38-12-102.5

§ 38-12-103.
Connecticut 1 month's lease is 62 years or older, 2 months' rent if younger 21 days from the move-out date or 15 days from getting the occupant's brand-new address § 47a-21.
Delaware 1 month's rent for leases of one year or more. No limit on all others types 20 days from the termination date Title 25 § 5514.
Florida No limit one month if reductions, 15 days if no deductions § 83.49( 3 )( a).
Georgia 2 months' rent 1 month from the termination date § 44-7-30.1

§ 44-7-34.
Hawaii 1 month's rent (leaving out family pet fee) 2 week from the termination date § 521-44.
Idaho No limitation 30 days if mentioned in the lease, 21 days if not § 6-321.
Illinois No limitation one month if deductions, 45 days if no deductions 765 ILCS 710.
Indiana No limit 45 days from the termination date § 32-31-3-12.
Iowa 2 months' rent one month after the tenant has abandoned § 562A.12.
Kansas 1 month's lease (unfurnished), 1.5 months' lease (provided) 2 week after making deductions or one month from the termination date § 58-2550.
Kentucky No limitation 60 days from the lease termination date § 383.580( 6 ).
Louisiana No limit 1 month from the termination date Revised Statute 9:3251.
Maine 2 months' rent 30 days if the lease is fixed-period, 21 days if tenancy-at-will § 6032, § 6033.
Maryland 1 month's rent 45 days from the termination date § 8-203.
Massachusetts 1 month's lease thirty days after the tenant has vacated Chapter 186, Section 15B.
Michigan 1.5 months' rent one month from completion of occupancy § 554.602, § 554.609.
Minnesota No limit 3 weeks from the termination date § 504B.178.
Mississippi No limit 45 days from completion of occupancy § 89-8-21.
Missouri 2 months' lease 1 month from the termination of tenancy § 535.300.
Montana No limit 30 days if reductions, 10 days if no deductions § 70-25-202.
Nebraska 1 month's rent (omitting animal cost) 2 week of move-out § 76-1416.
Nevada 3 months' rent 1 month from the end of tenancy NRS 118A.242.
New Hampshire 1 month's rent or $100, whichever is higher one month, 20 days if the residential or commercial property is shown the property manager RSA 540-A:6, RSA 540-A:7.
New Jersey 1.5 months' lease thirty days from the termination date § 46:8 -21.2, § 46:8 -21.1.
New Mexico 1 month's rent for leases under one year. No limitation for property leases of one year or more 30 days from the termination date § 47-8-18.
New York 1 month's rent unless the deposit or advance is for a seasonal usage residence unit 14 days after the renter has vacated Emergency Tenant Protection Act 576/74( f), § 7-108 (e).
North Carolina 2 months' rent for occupancies of more than 2 months; 1.5 months' rent for month-to-month tenancies 1 month if no reductions, if deductions then an additional 1 month § 42-51, § 42-52.
North Dakota 1 month's lease (omitting pet deposits) 30 days from the termination date § 47-16-07.1.
Ohio No limitation 30 days from the termination date § 5321.16.
Oklahoma No limitation 45 days from the termination date § 41-115( B).
Oregon No limitation 31 days from the termination date § 90.300.
Pennsylvania 2 months' rent thirty days from the termination date § 250.511 a, § 250.512.
Rhode Island 1 month's lease 20 days from the termination date § 34-18-19.
South Carolina No limit one month from the termination date § 27-40-410.
South Dakota 1 month's rent 2 week if no deductions, 45 days if reductions § 43-32-6.1, § 43-32-24.
Tennessee No limit 30 days from the termination date § 66-28-301.
Texas No limit one month after the occupant has actually left § 92.103.
Utah No limit one month from the termination date § 57-17-3.
Vermont No limitation 2 week, 60 days if a seasonal residential or commercial property § 4461.
Virginia 2 months' lease 45 days from the termination date or the date the renter abandons the home unit, whichever occurs last § 55.1-1226( A).
Washington No limit one month from tenant's move-out date § 59.18.280.
West Virginia No limitation 60 days after tenancy ends or 45 days after another renter moves in, whichever shorter § 37-6A-2.
Wisconsin No limit 21 days from renter's vacancy date § 134.06.
Wyoming No limitation 1 month from lease termination or 15 days from receiving the renter's forwarding address, whichever is lower § 1-21-1208( A)

Landlord's Access.
Expand Collapse.
State Required Notice Statute.
Alabama 2 days § 35-9A-303.
Alaska 24 hours § 34.03.140.
Arizona 48 hours § 33-1343.
Arkansas N/A N/A.
California 24 for non-emergency, 48 hours for the move-out assessment § 1954.
Colorado * N/A * N/A.
Connecticut Reasonable notification § 47a-16.
Delaware 2 days Title 25 § 5509.
Florida 24 hr § 83.53.
Georgia * N/A * N/A.
Hawaii 2 days § 521-53.
Idaho * N/A * N/A.
Illinois * N/A * N/A.
Indiana Reasonable notice § 32-31-5-6.
Iowa 24 hours § 562A.19.
Kansas Reasonable notice § 58-2557.
Kentucky 2 days § 383.615.
Louisiana * N/A * N/A.
Maine 24 hours § 6025.
Maryland * N/A * N/A.
Massachusetts Reasonable notice Sanitary Code (410.810 ).
Michigan * N/A * N/A.
Minnesota "Reasonable notice" of no less than 24 hr § 504B.211.
Mississippi * N/A * N/A.
Missouri * N/A * N/A.
Montana 24 hr § 70-24-312.
Nebraska 24 hr § 76-1423.
Nevada 24 hr NRS 118A.330.
New Hampshire Reasonable notice RSA 540-A:3.
New Jersey 1 day § 5:10 -5. 1
New Mexico 24 hours § 47-8-24
New York City * N/A * N/A.
North Carolina * N/A * N/A.
North Dakota Reasonable notice § 47-16-07.3.
Ohio 24 hours § 5321.04.
Oklahoma 1 day § 41-128.
Oregon 24 hours § 90.322.
Pennsylvania * N/A * N/A.
Rhode Island 2 days § 34-18-26.
South Carolina 24 hr § 27-40-530.
South Dakota 24 hours § 43-32-32.
Tennessee 24 hr § 66-28-403.
Texas * N/A * N/A.
Utah 24 hr § 57-22-4.
Vermont 48 hours § 4460.
Virginia 24 hours § 55.1-1229( A).
Washington 2 days for repair work, 1 day for provings § 59.18.150.
West Virginia * N/A * N/A.
Wisconsin Advance Notice § 704.05( 2 ).
Wyoming * N/A * N/A

Collapse

When is Rent Due? (grace durations).
Expand Collapse.
State When is Rent Due? Laws.
Alabama On the due date (no grace period) § 35-9A-161( c).
Alaska On the due date (no grace period) AS 34.03.020( c).
Arizona On the due date (no grace duration) ARS 33-1314( c).
Arkansas On the due date in the lease, however there is a 5-day grace period before a late charge might be imposed § 18-17-401( b)( 1 ), § 18-17-701( b).
California On the due date (no grace period) CIV Code 1947.
Colorado Not specified, but there is a 7-day grace duration before a late cost might be enforced C.R.S. § 38-12-105.
Connecticut 9-day grace period. § 47a-3a( a), § 47a-15a.
Delaware On the due date in the lease, however there is a 5-day grace period before a late cost might be enforced Title 25, § 5501( b), Title 25, § 5501( d).
Florida On the due date (no grace period) § 83.46( 1 ).
Georgia Not defined No statute.
Hawaii On the due date (no grace period) § 521-21( b).
Idaho Not specified No statute.
Illinois Not defined No statute.
Indiana Not specified No statute.
Iowa On the due date (no grace duration) 562A.9( 3 ).
Kansas On the due date (no grace duration) § 58-2545( c).
Kentucky On the due date (no grace duration) § 383.565( 2 ).
Louisiana On the due date (no grace duration) La. Civ. Code art. 2703( 1 ).
Maine 15-day grace duration Chapter 710, § 6028( 1 ).
Maryland On the due date (no grace duration) § 8-401( a).
Massachusetts 30-day grace duration. Chapter 186, Section 15B( 1 )( c).
Michigan On the due date (no grace duration) § 554.131.
Minnesota Not defined No statute.
Mississippi Not defined No statute.
Missouri On the due date (no grace duration) Rev. § 535.060.
Montana On the due date (no grace duration) § 70-24-201( 2 )( c).
Nebraska On the due date (no grace period) § 76-1414( 3 ).
Nevada On the due date (no grace period) NRS 118A.210( 1 ).
New Hampshire Not defined No statute.
New Jersey 5 organization day grace duration § 2A:42 -6.1( 1 ).
New Mexico On the due date (no grace period) § 47-8-15( B).
New York 5-day grace duration Housing Stability and Tenant Protection act of 2019.
North Carolina 4-day grace period § 42-46( a).
North Dakota Not specified No statute.
Ohio Not defined No statute.
Oklahoma On the due date (no grace duration) § 41-109( B).
Oregon On the due date in the lease, however there is a 4-day grace period before a late charge might be enforced § ORS 90.220( 7 )( a), ORS 90.260( 1 )( a)

Ga. Code § 44-7-16

Chicago only - $10.00 monthly for the very first $500.00 in month-to-month rent plus 5 percent each month for any amount in excess of $500.00 in monthly rent for the late payment of lease. No statute

5-12-140( h).
Indiana Not specified No statute.
Iowa If the rent does not go beyond $700/month, the late fee can not surpass more than $12/day each day or $60/month.

If the lease is higher than $700/month, the late can not surpass more than $20/day or $100/month. 562A.9( 4 ).
Kansas Not defined No statute.
Kentucky Not specified No statute.
Louisiana Not defined No statute.
Maine 4% of the month-to-month rent amount Chapter 710, § 6028( 2 ).
Maryland 5% of the regular monthly rent amount Md.